Bottle decasing apparatus



April 5, 1966 J, CONNER 3,244,303

BOTTLE DECASING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 14, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. DONALD J. CONNER ATTORNEY April 5, 1966 D. J. CONNER BOTTLE DECASING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1963 D. J. CONNER BOTTLE DECASING APPARATUS April 5, 1966 Filed Au IN VENTOR.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 DONALD J. CONNER ATTORNEY FIG. 6

I FIG.5 [H] E1 HT FIG. 7

April- 5, 1966 D. J. CONNER 3,244,303

, BOTTLE DECASING APPARATUS Filed. Aug. 14, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

|OO INVENTOR.

DONALD J. CONNER ATTORNEY April 1966 D. J. CONNER 3,244,303

BOTTLE DECASING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 14, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v (r AIR SUPPLY A v FILTER U I was azoucme v \7 SOL 200 I I AlzRvfigl-D WEIGHTED AIR STOP I-II- SOL 5s ll5 /.A.C. I LINE1 1 SWITCH 825% 230q El |70\ n I80 20 P f DowN SOLENOID UP SOLENOID ||5 v REVERSE W SOLENOID FORWARD IO SOLENOID g9} JAW CLOSE SOLENOID Eh JAW OPEN SOLENOID INVENTOR. DONALD J. CONNER BY MW ATTORNEY FIG. I?)

United States Patent 3,244,303 BOTTLE DECASING APPARATUS Donald J. Conner, 23821 Joanne Ave., Warren, Mich. Filed Aug. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 302,026 3 Claims. Cl. 214-309 This invention relates to bottle decasing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus that is compact, efficient and relatively simple in construction and operation.

The invention involves a structure having a hydraulically operated bottle carrier which lowers to pick up empty bottles out of a case, rises to a slide position, translates the bottles to a conveyor, and drops them onto the conveyor for movement to a bottle washing machine. The bottles are maintained at all times in the same relative relationship they had in the case. The discharge conveyor system is relatively simple and translates the bottles from a twoor three-row arrangement into a single file arrangement for movement into the bottle washer feeding apparatus. The case conveyor, as the bottle discharge conveyor, is independent of the bottle decasing machine of this invention and serves to translate cases from a storage area to the apparatus here involved.

The apparatus of this invention embodies means for lowering bottle clamping jaws to case unloading position, raising such bottles to an elevated position, translating them to a position outboard of the machine, and dropping them onto a discharge conveyor. The carrier then retracts to its position over the next case which has been moved into unloading position, and the cycle is repeated. The apparatus embodies air-hydraulic means for actuation of the mechanism, and electrical contact-sensitive micro-switches for energizing the hydraulic system at each step of the cycle.

The invention has particular utility in the milk and dairy industry, but it can also be utilized for other neckv type bottles and their cases. Inasmuch as case conveyors have been in operation for a long time, the structure of the apparatus is such that it can be used with practically any kind of conventional conveyor that moves cases from one position on the conveyor to another position thereon. The apparatus will operate with practically any size bottle so long as it has a neck and a head at the top edge of the neck for grasping by a pair of clamping jaws. The bottles may be round or square. As designed, the apparatus has utility primarily for unloading bottles from their cases. The discharge of bottles in single' file onto a conveyor by means of the case unloading apparatus of this invention would involve intricate mechanism that would, in the operation of such mechanism, substantially slow down the rate at which bottles would'be unloaded from their cases and thus render the machine much less efiicient. Translation of bottles from multipleto single-file movement is best performed by conveyors that operate continuously at high speed. Case unloading apparatus can operate at high speeds only if their operations are coordinated and limited to a minimum number of functional steps, and this has been accomplished by the instant invention.

' An object of the invention is to provide simplified, compact case unloading apparatus for bottles for use with conventional case and bottle conveyors. Another object is to provide means for progressively controlling the functional operation of such apparatus. Yet another object is to control the operation by means of contactsensitive micro-switches operating through an air hydraulic system. A further object is the provision of apparatus only for the unloading of bottles from their cases. Still another object is the provision of such apparatus for translation of bottles taken from a case to a bottle Patented Apr. 5,- 1966 discharge conveyor without altering the pattern relationship of such bottles and utilizing the latter conveyor for translation of the bottles from a multiple-file to a single-file movement of such bottles.

These and additional objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the description given below, in which the terms employed are used for purposes of description and not of limitation. Reference is here made to the drawings annexed hereto, forming an integral part of this specification, and in which FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of apparatus embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to that in FIGURE 3, but showing the bottle carrier projected to position over a discharge conveyor.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the bottle carrier in initial position above a case" of bottles.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the bottle carrier in bottle grasping position at the case.

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are views showing the structure and operation of the clamping bars.

FIGURE 11 is a plan view taken substantially on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic line layout of the hydraulic system utilized in the inventive apparatus.

FIGURE 13 is a wiring diagram of the electrical systern utilized in the inventive apparatus.

The preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the several views of the drawing is the decasing apparatus 10 which comprises a frame 12, a bottle carrier 14 mounted on a slide 16, and power means and mechanism for operating the slide and the bottle carrier.

The frame 12 comprises a base 18 having side members 20, front members 22, rear members 24, and legs 26. Mounted on the base are vertical front members 28, intermediate vertical members 30 and rear members 32, capped and conjoined by a front header member 34, side header members 36, and a rear header member 38. Intermediate the base 18 and the header inembers are two lateral members 40 secured at one end to the members 30 and at their forward ends to the front members 28, the lower portions of which are attached to bottle conveyor framing 42 disposed adjacent the front of the frame 12.

As an adjunct to the apparatus 10 and designed to provide a means for translating bottle loaded cases 44 to the apparatus and emptied cases therefrom, the case conveyor 46 comprises an endless series of hingedly' connected links arranged in parallel lines 48 designed to support the cases thereabove. Power means for driving the conveyor lines' 48 is not shown but is of conventional type and arrangement. framing 50 which extends under a portion of the apparatus 10 and between the bottle conveyor framing 42 and the machine frame 12. The case conveyor 46 is operable continuously, the links being generally coated with a lubricant so that they easily slide under the cases which may temporarily be held at an unloading position within the compass of the apparatus 10. A lateral bumper 52 is fixedly mounted on the machine frame 12 adjacent the case conveyor 42 and against which the cases 44 are pressed by the case holding mechanism 54 for the bottle unloading step of the operation.

Case holding mechanism 54 comprises a hydraulically The conveyor lines are supported on conveyor operated cylinder 56, a piston driven rod 58 issuing from the cylinder, hingedly-conjoined levers 60 pivoted at 62 and provided with a case holder 64, and a weighted air switch mounted on or in conjunction with frame 12 over the slide 16 Positioned substantially in the plane of the case conveyor 46 are a pair of aligned rotatable roller stops 70, lever connected at a pivot 72 by arms 74, 76, the latter being fixedly secured to a cross shaft 78 for elevating and lowering the rollers 70, 70. Adjacent and forward of the members 80 supporting the rollers 76 is a microswitch 82, normallyopen, mounted on the framing 50 and against which the member 80 will be moved upon engagement of the rollers 70 by a case 44 being, translated on and by the conveyor 46. Shaft 78 is rotated by the lever 84 and rod 86 pivoted at 88, rod 86 being the piston rod in hydraulic cylinder 90 pivotally mounted at 92. When actuated, rod 86 is forced uwardly and rotates the shaft 78 to move the rollers 70 upwardly and into the plane of the cases 44; upon reverse movement, the rollers 70 are drawn downwardly into the plane of the conveyor 46, permitting the case (now unloaded) to be carried out of range of the apparatus 10 by the case conveyor 46. The weighted air switch in conjunction with the cylinder 56 operates to hold the roller stops 70 in the plane of the conveyor 46 under the case 44 which is now in movement thereover. As the slide 16 travels forward to its outboard position over the bottle conveyor 1% the weighted air switch is tripped by the slide or a contact member on the slide to temporarily hold the rollers 70 under and out of engagement with the case 44 then passing thereover until aproximately one-half of the case length has travelled beyond its initial stop position. Upon release of the weighted air switch by the slide or its contact member the rollers are forced upwardly by the cylinder 90 into a position elevating the case 44 then passing thereover and into stop position for the next case then approaching the rollers. The air valve controlling the operation of the case grasping holder 64 is a two-way holding valve for the air cylinder 56,, whereby the case holder 64 engages the case 44 on its conveyor until the slide and carrier unit is elevated from its bottle grasping position adjacent the case, and then the case clamp is released upon reverse action of the cylinder 56. Such case clamping action is necessary to resist upward movement of the case should bottles become wedged between the partitions of the case as they are withdrawn from their positions therebetween.

Power drive means for the bottle conveyor 160 comprises the electric motor 102 driving speed reducer 104 on its support 106, a chain drive 108 rotating shaft 110, and a drive mechanism 112 driven by shaft and driving the conveyor shaft 114. The bottle conveyor 100 is mounted on framing 42 and comprises an endless series of link connected plates driven by shaft 114 through rollers and sprockets to carry bottles 116 away from the area of discharge when unloaded from the cases 44. Disposed on the conveyor framing 42 at a position beyond the apparatus 10 is a micro-switch 11S engageable by bottles 11,6 moving adjacent the switch support as they are carried along on the conveyor 160. This switch is normally closed but is opened when bottles 116 engage it at the side of the conveyor. Switch 118 is in circuit with the case conveyor micro-switch 82. When switch 118 is open (bottles engaging it) the carrier and slide will not lower to case unloading position, even though switch 82 is engaged by a case 44. However, when switch 113 is closed (its normal condition) and switch 82 is also closed, the carrier and slide will operate.

surmounted on frame 12 are the members 120 pivotally supporting a hydraulic cylinder 122 in a position over the area of the case conveyor 46 and substantially central of the same within the compass on the frame 12. The piston rod 124 of the cylinder 122 is secured to the slide support 125 at 126, the support being fixedly secured to the bearings 127 slidable on vertical columns 128, 128 adjacent the frame members 36; 36 at the sides of'the apparatus. Secured to the bearings 127, 127 are the slide supports 129 having a series of spaced rollers 130 facing inwardly and upon which the slide ways 132 roll in their movement toward and away from the bottle conveyor 100. The carrier 14 is secured to the slide 16 by suitable framing 133, 133.

Secured to the slide 16 in underposed position is the bottle carrier 14 having its pivoting jaws linked by levers 142, 144 and operated by levers 146, 148 respectively and pivoting on the pins 150, 152 and 154, 156 which are disposed in spaced openings in the levers 146, 148 respectively. The rearward ends of levers 146, 148 are pivotally linked to the hydraulic cylinder 160 having piston heads 162, 164 at each end thereof. Lever 146 is linked to the piston head 162 at 166 and lever 148 to piston head 164 at 168. As the cylinder 160 is actuated, the piston heads move in the same direction to open or close the jaws 140 (FIGURES 8, 9 and 10). Upon actuation of the cylinder 160 to close the jaws (FIGURE 8), the head 164 engages the micro-switch 170 mounted on the slide frame 125, the switch being normally open, and sending the slide and carrier back up to the elevated position shown in FIGURE 3. The jaws 140 pivot on pins 172 rotatably secured in end plates 174 of the carrier 14. Disposed on a framing member 30 inwardly thereof (FIGURE 4) is a micro-switch engageable by a contact bar 182 fixed to a bearing 127, whereby when this switch is closed by its contact bar the jaws 140 are caused to close upon the necks of bottles 116 in the case 44 by operation of the air cylinder 160, and the gate 184 adjacent the bottle conveyor 106 is caused to be lowered by hydraulic cylinders 186, 186 mounted on the framing members 28, 28 (FIGURE 1). Upon lowering of the gate 184, the way is clear for the bottles 116 to be carried outwardly of framing 12 to a discharge position over the bottle conveyor 100.

The slide 16 is provided with-a bearing roller 190 rotatably mounted thereon toward its rearward end and disposed in a yoke 192 pivotally supported on members 194 secured on the rotatable shaft 196. Secured to the yoke at the member 198 is a hydraulic cylinder 260 pivotally mounted at 202 on the frame member 204. Upon actuation of the cylinder 200, the yoke is pivoted forwardly causing the carrier 14 to move outwardly of the frame 12 to its bottle discharge position over the bottle conveyor 100. This movement is triggered by the microswitch 210 supported on the framing member 32 (FIG- URE 4), as the frame 125 is elevated by piston rod 124, and the contact member 214 on the bearing 127 engages the switch 210.

Mounted on the slide frame 125 is a micro-switch 220 disposed adjacent an edge of the frame for engagement with a contact bar 222 secured to a bearing 128'and projecting inwardly in the path of the switch 220 as the slide 16 moves forwardly to place the carrier 14 over the bottle conveyor 100 (FIGURE 5). The closing of switch 220 by the contact 222 actuates the air cylinder 160 so as to open the clamping jaws 140, releasing bottles 116 held thereby to the bottle conveyor 1%. Since the bottles are carried at a level elevated above the conveyor, they drop a short distance thereonto, and are not deposited thereon by the carrier 14. At the same time as switch 226' causes the jaws 140 to open, the air cylinder 260 is also actuated to return the slide and carrier to its retracted position over the case conveyor 46. However, the carrier will not be retracted if bottle conveyor switch 118 is open by virtue of bottles 116 engaging the switch and holding it open, or if there is no case 44 engaging the rollers 70, in which event the case conveyor switch 82 is open. 7

Upon return of the slide and carrier to the elevated position shown in FIGURE 6, after discharge of bottles 116, the micro-switch 230, mounted on support 232 secured to frame 12 at its rearward end, is engaged by the end of the slide 16 or a contact member thereon. If bottle conveyor switch 118 is open, the switch 230 sends the carrier and slide down toward the case 44, as in FIGURE 7.

Another micro-switch 240 is disposed on the slide 16 in a position slightly forward of that taken by switch 220. The switch 240 is engaged by a member 242 mounted on the framing support 125 before switch 220 is engaged by its contact member 222. Upon closing switch 240, the air cylinders 186 are caused to reverse and to elevate the gate 184 into bottle guiding position, before the jaws 140 open and release bottles 116 to the conveyor.

The air valves referred to in the specification and in the drawing FIGURE 12 are of a solenoid type, identified in the trade as Bellows, that are adjustable for operation at any rate of speed for response within the limits of the valves as established by the manufacturer. These valves control the various air cylinders described above and operate upon sensing of the micro-switches referrcd to herein.

In operation, the case unloading apparatus or machine is provided with a source of electrical energy such as is shown in the wiring diagram, FIGURE 13. The line switch, when closed, feeds current to the case conveyor micro-switch 82 which, upon contact by roller member as a case 44 strikes the rollers 70, initiates the cycle of operation. When the switch 82 is closed, air cylinder 56 is actuated and the case clamp 64 is pivoted into case holding position, forcing a case 44 on conveyor 46 against bumper 52. The air cylinder 122 is energized and sends the slide and carrier down to the case 44 having bottles 116 therein. When the contact bar 182 engages switch 180, the clamping jaws close over the necks and heads of bottles 116 in the case 44 and simultaneously the air cylinders 186, at each side of the frame adjacent the bottle conveyor 100, are charged withair and lower the gate 184, which serves as a guide and fence for the bottles on the conveyor when in elevated position. Upon closing of the clamping jaws, the cylinder 164, or a member thereon, engages the micro-switch which sends the slide and carrier to its elevated position, FIGURE 3. Upon reaching that plane, the contact bar 214 (FIG- URE 4) has engaged the micro-switch 210, and the slide and carrier are moved forwardly by air cylinder 200 operating through yoke 192 and the roller bearing 190 mounted on slide 16. When the slide has advanced the carrier 14 to its discharge position over the bottle conveyor 100, the micro-switch 220 engages the contact bar 222 mounted on the bearing 127 (FIGURES 4 and 5), causing the air cylinder 160 to reverse itself and open jaws 140, releasing the bottles over the conveyor. Just before switch 220 is engaged and closed, the microswitch 240 on slide 116 is engaged by contact member 242 causing the air cylinders 186 to reverse and elevate the gate 184 to guide position, as in FIGURES 3, 5 and 6. On opening the clamping jaws 140, the switch 220 also actuates the cylinder 200 causing the slide and carrier to be retracted to its initial position over the case conveyor, as seen in FIGURE 6, ready for the next cycle.

Should the bottle conveyor switch 118 be engaged by bottles on the conveyor and held in open position, the carrier 14 will not retract from its position over the bottle conveyor 100 even though case conveyor switch 82 is engaged. The switch 118 must be open and switch 82 closed to effect retraction of the carrier. Similarly, switch 82 and switch 230 must both be closed to effect lowering of the slide and carrier to bottle clamping po sition.

Reference is made to the diagrammatic layout of the hydraulic system, which is preferably an air system under pressure, FIGURE 12, and to the wiring diagram, FIG- URE 13, for a comprehensive view of the electrical and 6 hydraulic relationships of the sensing and actuating mechanism described above.

It will be observed and understood from the description given above and by reference to the drawings that the embodiment of the invention here described and illustrated comprises a machine 10 having positive features for maximum reliability and performance. At any time, an operator can observe the functional performance of the machine. In the event of a deficiency in function, maintenance and repairs are relatively simple and easy to make and at relatively low cost. The function of the machine is controlled from step to step by sensitive fast acting micro-switches and fully responsive air cylinders. The high speed actuation of the machine is such that half-gallon milk bottles can be unloaded from cases and discharged onto the bottle conveyor at the rate of 90-120 per minute, and quart bottles at the rate of 240 per minute.

Having described the invention in its simplest terms, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that the features of construction can be changed and varied in greater or lesser degree without departing from the essence of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for unloading bottles from a case on a case conveyor to a bottle conveyor, a frame for said apparatus, a portion of said apparatus disposed-above and adjacent said case conveyor, means adjacent said case conveyor sensing the presence of a case thereon in the area of said apparatus, means for translating said bot-ties from said case to said bottle conveyor supported by said frame and movable thereon and therewithin, second sensing means responsive to contact by said translation means upon downward movement to said case, means in said translation means for clamping said case-held bottles responsive to said second sensing means, third sensing means responsive to upward travel of said translation means from said case, means for projecting said translation means in its elevated plane from its position above said case to a position above said bottle conveyor responsive to said third sensing means, fourth sensing means responsive to projected movement of said translation means, said bottle clamping means operatively responsive to said fourth sensing means to unclamp said bottles for discharge to said bottle conveyor, fifth sensing means responsive to return movement of a contact with said translation means for initiation of another cycle of operation by said translation means, and a plurality of hydraulic power devices actuated by said plurality of sensing means and operatively conjoined with said bottle translation means, said case sensing means on said case conveyor comprising a pair of conjoined rollers disposed slightly above the plane of said conveyor in case stopping position, hinged supports for said rollers, a hydraulic power device associatedly connected with said supports and responsive to contact responsive means sens ing said case mounted on said conveyor, said rollers being retractable into the plane of said case conveyor and projectable from said plane into case blocking attitude by said latter power device.

2. In apparatus for unloading bottles from a bottle carrying case onto a bottle conveyor, a frame for said apparatus, means for translating said bottles from said case to said bottle conveyor, a plurality of means sensing the vertical and horizontal movements of said translation means, said bottle translation means operably responsive to said sensing means, hydraulically operable devices actuated by said plurality of sensing means and operatively conjoined with said translation means to vertically lower and elevate and horizontally project and retract said translation means, said translation means comprising a unitary slide and bottle carrier, said carrier being fixedly secured to said slide, means supporting and guiding said slide and carrier in vertical movement to and from a bottle clamping position at said case and in horizontal movement to and from a bottle discharge position at said bottle conveyor, said sensing means comprising contact sensitive switches associated with said hydraulically operable debottle conveyor, a'vertically movable gate being disposed adjacent said bottle conveyor, hydraulically operable devices mounted on said frame and movably supporting said gate, said gate being disposed in its elevated position adjacent and above the plane of said bottle conveyor and in its lowered position adjacent and below the plane of said bottle conveyor.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said gate supporting devices are operably responsive to sensing means mounted on said translation means when in contact with a frame mounted contact member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,641,371 6/1953 Webster 214-89 2,862,633 12/1958 Stiles 214309 3,167,201 1/1965 Quayle 214730 FOREIGN PATENTS 94,766 3/ 1957 Norway.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Examiner.

A. GRANT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN APPARTUS FOR UNLOADING BOTTLES FROM A CASE ON A CASE CONVEYOR TO A BOTTLE CONVEYOR, A FRAME FOR SAID APPARATUS, A PORTION OF SAID APPARATUS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID ADJACENT SAID CASE CONVEYOR, MEANS ADJACENT SAID CASE CONVEYOR SENSING THE PRESENCE OF A CASE THEREON IN THE AREA OF SAID APPARATUS, MEANS FOR TRANSLATING SAID BOTTLES FROM SAID CASE TO SAID BOTTLE CONVEYOR SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME AND MOVABLE THEREON AND THEREWITHIN, SECOND SENSING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO CONTACT BY SAID TRANSLATION MEANS UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT TO SAID CASE, MEANS IN SAID TRANSLATION MEANS FOR CLAMPING SAID CASE-HELD BOTTLES RESPONSIVE TO SAID SECOND SENSING MEANS, THIRD SENSING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO UPWARD TRAVEL OF SAID TRANSLATION MEANS FROM SAID CASE, MEANS FOR PROJECTING SAID TRANSLATION MEANS IN ITS ELEVATED PLANE FROM ITS POSITION ABOVE SAID CASE TO A POSITION ABOVE SAID BOTTLE CONVEYOR RESPONSIVE TO SAID THIRD SENSING MEANS, FOURTH SENSING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO PROJECT MOVEMENT OF SAID TRANSLATION MEANS, SAID BOTTLE CLAMPING MEANS OPERATIVELY RESPONSIVE TO SAID FOURTH SENSING MEANS TO UNCLAMP SAID BOTTLES FOR DISCHARGE TO SAID BOTTLE CONVEYOR, FIFTH SENSING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO RETURN MOVEMENT OF A CONTACT WITH SAID TRANSLATION MEANS FOR INITIATION OF ANOTHER CYCLE OF OPERATION BY SAID TRANSLATION MEANS, AND A PLURALITY OF SENSING MEANS AND OPERATIVELY CONJOINED WITH PLUALITY OF SENSING MEANS AND OPERATIVELY CONJOINED WITH SAID BOTTLE TRANSLATION MEANS, SAID CASE SENSING MEANS ON SAID CASE CONVEYOR COMPRISING A PAIR OF CONJOINED ROLLERS DISPOSED SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE PLANE OF SAID CONVEYOR IN CASE STOPPING POSITION, HINGED SUPPORTS FOR SAID ROLLERS, A HYDRAULIC POWER DEVICE ASSOCIATEDLY CONNECTED WITH SAID SUPPORTS AND RESPONSIVE TO CONTACT RESPONSIVE MEANS SENSING SAID CASE MOUNTED ON SAID CONVEYOR, SAID ROLLERS BEING RETRACTABLE INTO THE PLANE OF SAID CASE CONVEYOUR AND PROJECTABLE FROM SAID PLANE INTO CASE BLOCKING ATTITUDE BY SAID LATTER POWER DEVICE. 